Are UK Homes Age-proof?

Exploring the Importance of Lifetime Homes and Senior Living Considerations for Homebuilders

No matter who is buying your homes today, there is a high chance that, at some point, a person of an advanced age might want to buy or live in the property. 

Here, we will explore the topic of age-proofing homes, the benefits and drawbacks for homebuilders, and the various ways in which we can make our homes accessible to older or less mobile residents.

Why is it Important to Age-proof Our New Homes?

As we discovered on the Day of 8 Billion, across the globe, our population is ageing.  With fewer babies born each year, the average age of both men and women is rising.  And this is a trend that is set to continue. 

The increasing age of our society means that, as the decades and centuries go by, our homes will be occupied by more and more elderly residents.  And if the homes we’re building aren’t designed to accommodate this demographic, then they have arguably been given a shorter shelf life.

It is also important to note the large portion of UK housing stock that is already built, with 80% of buildings which will be occupied in 2050 already in existence.  These include a vast number of older buildings, which are largely unsuitable for the elderly, with narrow doorframes, a dependence on stairs and steps, and plug sockets that would be unreachable by a wheelchair user.

As Rachel Docking, of the Centre for Ageing Better explains, there are four accessibility features that make a home visitable to most people: ‘level access to the entrance, a flush threshold, sufficiently wide door sets and circulation space, and a toilet at entrance level.’  Docking emphasises that, ‘Not meeting these criteria means people who have a disability or who have lost mobility with age are at a huge disadvantage when looking for a home.’

It is a moral obligation as well as a practical necessity to build our homes so that they will service the elderly of both today and in the future.

Age-proof Home Features

There are certain large-scale features of the home that are known to be beneficial for older, less mobile residents, such as wider doorways, ramps and grab bars, stairlifts, walk-in bathtubs and higher socket locations.  However, there are also a couple of minor, or less immediately obvious features that can greatly benefit older home users.

One such feature is the integration of technology in the home.  As Forbes Health magazine explains, ‘From smart door locks, cameras and lighting to smart hubs that control all your smart devices, smart home upgrades can help you age in place safely—even with mobility challenges and other health issues.’

Smart home technology can make homes more convenient and safe for their ageing homeowners. Features like voice-activated controls require less physical movement, which is ideal for those lacking mobility; whereas security systems and remote monitoring devices can enhance the comfort and feelings of security in the home of an ageing resident.

Another hugely beneficial but almost invisible feature that is perfect for an ageing homeowner is a high level of energy efficiency.  New build properties often include energy-efficient features.  These features are important for their ability to reduce household utility costs, which is of much benefit to an older resident on a fixed income.  As the Guardian wrote last year, ‘Older energy bill payers are more likely to live in fuel poverty.’  Lower energy bills can also make it easier for older individuals to maintain their homes, allowing them to save money to have repairs they are unable to carry out themselves performed by a professional.

Understanding age-proof features and their benefits is the first step, but how can homebuilders integrate these features into the homes they are building?

Age-proofing for Homebuilders

For some homebuilders, the rising age of our population has led them to focus on building homes purely aimed at this demographic.  McCarthy Stone is a good example of a developer who focuses on this market and streamlines all of their building, marketing and planning to optimise features that will appeal to an older homebuyer.

This is a savvy move for a homebuilder as, ‘Demand for retirement properties is increasing as the UK’s ageing population continues to rise,’ says PlanRadar.  However, despite the increasing demand for retirement properties, there are factors that must be considered.  For instance, the value of the property is often not the same when it is labelled as a retirement property.  PlanRadar reveal that, ‘Housing units reserved for older buyers are often offered at lower prices, as most people looking to buy homes for retirement are living from pensions and savings rather than accumulating income.’  The sale of a new home must be attractive to the older buyer and this is often achieved through a lower property price.

Another consideration for homebuilders looking to venture into this market is whether they will refocus their efforts entirely on this pool of buyers, as it could mean a complete shift in strategy.  ‘Increasingly, first-time buyers are looking for properties that need few changes.  Meanwhile, elderly buyers are more likely to prioritise adaptability in case of changing needs,’ says PlanRadar.

This means that developers might require a whole section of the business to be modelled for this audience.  This might involve a significant financial investment, which, at this point in time is not appealing for every homebuilder.

And yet, there are other ways to age-proof our homes.

Retrofitting Older Properties

As well as homebuilders who are creating homes that will support residents as they age, there is also an opportunity for individuals and organisations to retrofit older properties in order to age-proof them.

As argued by Age UK, ‘Getting housing right for older people could have immense benefits for society and the economy.’  As our populations get older and older, the demand for this housing is only going to increase.

Adjustments to an older property can take many forms and be completed to fulfil the requirements of a particular individual, or applied on a larger scale to a number of properties, each of which benefits from accessible features and systems to make life more comfortable and secure for an older resident.

Age UK highlight the fact that, ‘Most older people want to retain independence and control over their homes.  Accessibility standards and design often determine the options for the delivery of care and support at home – if required.’  So, to help older residents lead the independent lifestyle they desire, it will be important to have housing that accommodates their requirements.  They go on to explain that, ‘The speed and efficiency with which adaptations are provided can make the difference between older people staying in the comfort and security of their own homes or being forced into residential care.’

It is unfortunate that, at the moment, there are residents in care who would have preferred to have stayed at home and been capable of doing so if their homes had been altered or designed accordingly.

The Chartered Institute for Housing advocate the need for older residents to retrofit their homes.  They argue that older people, especially those on low incomes and with low equity homes, struggle to make the right choices or understand how to navigate the retrofit, which is critical, ‘As getting it wrong is costly and itself damaging to physical and mental wellbeing.’  They acknowledge the challenges faced by housing providers when catering to the older members of society, adding, ‘But it is time to think differently about how we can capitalise on the challenges and personalise the approaches to increase chances for older people across all tenures to live in affordable, decent and healthy homes.’

Action is needed in this area in order to support the retrofitting of homes for those who need it as they age, and it is an initiative that would also come with significant environmental benefits. 

Retrofitting projects might seem like a financial- and labour-heavy undertaking, however, to future-proof homes now, means we are reducing our workload in years to come.  Each retrofitted home will benefit from efficient systems that will not need updating for many years, therefore reducing our need for large-scale retrofits in future.  

Steps In the Right Direction

Although action is certainly needed in order for us to meet the demand of an older generation of home users, there are some positive moves being made that are helping.

For instance, ‘The government announced in July that it intended to improve building regulations to require all new homes to have entrance level step-free access and other accessibility features as a minimum requirement,’ the Centre for Ageing Better informs.  Although this change might mean some additional costs for homebuilders initially, which might not be ideal in a turbulent economy, these costs would filter down to the end user and be covered by the price of the property at sale.

Also, the homebuilders like McCarthy Stone, who are creating developments dedicated to the older market, are also having a hugely positive impact on available housing for the elderly.  It could be that developers of this type make up a much larger portion of the housing sector in years to come.

If you’re building homes for older buyers, or considering a move into this growing market, it is also important to note that these homes should be explained to their users.  Details about how to operate the accessibility, security and safety features of the property should be provided for the residents, in order for them to achieve their optimum levels of independence and feel confident that they are utilising the home’s features effectively.  We have been creating and providing Guides of this type for McCarthy Stone for many years and have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that we could apply to your developments.  To find out more about how we can help you succeed in this market, get in touch here.